Solcat 18 :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

Solcat 18

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daveyslack

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Dec 20, 2005

Last visit: Oct 29, 2009

Posts: 2
Posted: Jan 30, 2009 - 12:15 AM

Have owned 2 Hobie 18's and 2 SolCat 18's. I liked the SolCats better, but parts can be a big show stopper.

Owned a 1976 model in 1977-82. Then found a 1978 model 3 years ago. Just sold her due to shoulder surgery.

Nothing like the hum of a cat in 20 knots of wind. It gets burned on the brain, something you will never forget.

I couldn't figure out how to post pictures. Send me your email if you want some good pictures of Solcat 18's. Will try and load them somewhere on beachcats if I can figure it out.

Dave
desmd80@aol.com
nakedbarra

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Feb 10, 2009

Last visit: Feb 11, 2009

Posts: 1
Posted: Feb 10, 2009 - 10:57 PM

I got a solcat 18 last summer and love it but I have a soft spot on 1 hull right where I sit how can I fix this? ( dont mean to hi jack , just tell me to re post if need be)
ohmsj

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 07, 2004

Last visit: Nov 14, 2019

Posts: 141
Posted: Feb 11, 2009 - 12:11 AM

Try these sites

http://www.hobiecat.com/support/tech/delam.html

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=136971&page=1

Let me know if you can't get to these

Where do you sail ?

Jeff O

--
Jeff O
N5.0
solcat 18(sold),
N5.2,
H16
Camarillo CA
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CrdStang

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 02, 2009

Last visit: Sep 13, 2009

Posts: 4
Posted: Sep 03, 2009 - 06:48 AM

Hey guys,

I thought I'd post some pics of my Solcat 18 here since this thread had everything to do with me purchasing the Solcat in the first place. In particular, monstacotyscott's website. Unfortunately there aren't any "before" photos, but suffice to say the hulls had huge soft spots, dents, shoddy repairs and bady oxidized gelcoat. A dozen or so afternoons worth of injecting epoxy, filling, and sanding, sanding sanding....can't wait to get her in the water.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v294/CrdStang/Solcat/

(Yes, that really is a wooden trailer. No, I don't intend to use it, came with the boat)
brigittematt

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 13, 2009

Last visit: Apr 28, 2012

Posts: 18
Posted: Sep 04, 2009 - 08:16 PM

CrdStang, I love the two tone paitn job. We have had our solcat for a few weeks now but have only used it a couple of times. The first trip the shrouds parted, new ones from Salty Dog. The only problem is last week end we were putting the jib on and the forstay was too thick for the jib hanks. Got to get the rat tail file out and fix that. Now I have a sone with a messed up knee from soccer so I'm not sure we will take it out this week end. If We go out I'll take some photos of he lime green beast.
Still haven't figured out how to attatch the bungie cord material to the trap lines. Any one have a clue about this. It had them before and there are a couple of blocks. I saw a post where they go under the trampoline through a couple of grommets. Ours dosen't have the holes in the tramp, I guess I could put some gromets in. Does anyone just run them on top of the trampoline, from side to side. Or do you go fore and aft with them?
skarr1

Rank: Mate

Registered: Feb 25, 2007

Last visit: Jul 13, 2012

Posts: 414
Posted: Sep 04, 2009 - 11:46 PM

More options here
http://www.murrays.com/mm…Code=C-TRA&Store_Code=MS

edited by: skarr1, Sep 04, 2009 - 10:47 PM
ohmsj

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 07, 2004

Last visit: Nov 14, 2019

Posts: 141
Posted: Sep 05, 2009 - 12:08 PM

Hey Matt

My solcat has the grommets so the shock cord can run under the tramp and stay out of the way, but you could run over the top and through the rings on the hulls or you could just run the shock cord short and knot them off to the rings on the deck.

I would try running over the tramp first and see if they are to much in the way, if so you could try the short cord to the rings.

I will send you a pic.

good luck

Jeff O

--
Jeff O
N5.0
solcat 18(sold),
N5.2,
H16
Camarillo CA
--
Quarath

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 06, 2008

Last visit: Jul 19, 2018

Posts: 986
Posted: Sep 08, 2009 - 05:33 PM

I sat on a Sol Cat 18 this week end shortly after member of our sailing group limped it back from being turtled for an hour and a half. He was sailing it solo is only about 200 lbs. and had no righting bag. He ended up sending a jetski to the beach we wre all at to get us to come rescue him. But. It looks like a nice boat.

--
Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
1982 Prindle 16
1980 Prindle 16(mostly)
1976 Prindle 16(mostly)
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook.
--
CrdStang

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 02, 2009

Last visit: Sep 13, 2009

Posts: 4
Posted: Sep 09, 2009 - 04:06 AM

Well, we took her out for her first sail, and nothing serious broke. We had a blast too! Got her up to about 12 knots on the GPS.

brigittematt, your jib has hanks? Mine doesn't...strange. I don't know if the sails I have are orginal or not. Does your jib have battens?

As far as the shock cord issue goes, my boat has a shock cord running inside the forward crossbeam. It comes out the ends and has a 2:1 block set on each side with 1/4" rope and about 2' of slack. There's a V jamb on one of the blocks. I imagine this is part of the trapeze setup, but I don't know how it's supposed to go together.
dapologuy

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 05, 2010

Last visit: Sep 07, 2010

Posts: 2
Posted: Sep 05, 2010 - 03:02 PM

hi guys, looks like this post inactive for a year or two, anyone still out there?

I've been a lake sailor since childhood, currently doodle around on a sunfish. I always wanted a little cat and just got back from purchasing a hobie 14. Sitting in the yard next to it was when I went to look was a blue cat that I recognized by the shape of the hulls as a Solcat 18. The guy told me to just take it with the Hobie. Supposed to be complete, rudders and daggers are there, sails in a tote, rigging, wires and ropes everywhere! I've got the manual from above, any other suggestions?
DamonLinkous

Rank: Administrator

Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Nov 15, 2024

Posts: 3446
Posted: Sep 05, 2010 - 10:21 PM

dapologuyThe guy told me to just take it with the Hobie. Supposed to be complete, rudders and daggers are there, sails in a tote, rigging, wires and ropes everywhere!

Wow, what a score!

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

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Quarath

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 06, 2008

Last visit: Jul 19, 2018

Posts: 986
Posted: Sep 07, 2010 - 04:05 PM

no kidding, That's awesome. In our little fleet the Solcat 18 is my biggest competitor.

--
Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
1982 Prindle 16
1980 Prindle 16(mostly)
1976 Prindle 16(mostly)
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook.
--
dapologuy

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 05, 2010

Last visit: Sep 07, 2010

Posts: 2
Posted: Sep 07, 2010 - 07:35 PM

bringing her home tomorrow, maybe I can figure out how to post some pictures (I'm not very "techy") and get you guys to help me figure this thing out. Sailing season is just about over here (NJ) so I'm figuring by spring...
US73

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 01, 2009

Last visit: Apr 09, 2012

Posts: 8
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 02:13 PM

I'm very jealous. Have had mine apart for almost a year until this weekend. Put the restoration on hold to go out and have a little fun (or a lot!). Crew was new to cats, too, and had a blast.
BrianCT

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 14, 2010

Last visit: Oct 30, 2016

Posts: 58
Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 03:28 PM

damonAdmin
bhullThanks for the info!
I'm leaning towards an 18' for distance sailing.
Can Hobie sails fit on a Solcat mast if I have to replace one down the line?

I don't think you understand how rare the Solcat is. So rare that most of us have never seen one in person. I have no idea when exactly they were produced or how many may have been manufactured.

If anyone has that kind of information I would like to have it for the Identification archives.

Hi Damon, I'm new to the forum. There's a nice Sol Cat 18 on my beach here in CT if you want me to snap some pictures. The design of the hulls and tramp are closer to a Hobie 17 than my H18 e.g., The boat appears to have significantly less hull volume than a H18 and the tramp is sloped like a 17. One thing I found interesting is there is a large aluminum boom-like structure running underneath the tramp center lacing connecting the front and aft crossbars. The ID is prominently stamped on the transom and it appears to be a 1976 boat. You would never know it looking at the sails, however. It's in good condition.
DamonLinkous

Rank: Administrator

Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Nov 15, 2024

Posts: 3446
Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 04:18 PM

BrianCTHi Damon, I'm new to the forum. There's a nice Sol Cat 18 on my beach here in CT if you want me to snap some pictures. The design of the hulls and tramp are closer to a Hobie 17 than my H18 e.g., The boat appears to have significantly less hull volume than a H18 and the tramp is sloped like a 17. One thing I found interesting is there is a large aluminum boom-like structure running underneath the tramp center lacing connecting the front and aft crossbars. The ID is prominently stamped on the transom and it appears to be a 1976 boat. You would never know it looking at the sails, however. It's in good condition.

Welcome Brian, thanks for the info. Please fill out your profile when you get a chance. (Profile link in main menu)

What you said about the Solcat hulls is what I've heard as well, that they don't like a lot of weight, but the boat is fast if sailed by lightweight crew.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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DanBerger

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 02, 2002

Last visit: Aug 13, 2020

Posts: 214
Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 04:25 PM

I think this is the sweetest looking Sol Cat I have ever seen!!

http://richmond.craigslist.org/boa/1949546185.html

I have no idea who is selling it, so I'm not helping anyone out, BUT, if you want a nice Sol, check it out!
BrianCT

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 14, 2010

Last visit: Oct 30, 2016

Posts: 58
Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 09:33 PM

Thanks Damon, below are some photos of the Sol Cat 18 I was referring to. Like I said, it resembles an H-17 more than it does an H-18. I've seen this guy on the water and it certainly moves.....

Hefty center post underneath the tramp lacing:

Sloped tramp:

Rudder Assembly:
mrmontana

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 09, 2013

Last visit: Jul 09, 2013

Posts: 1
Posted: Jul 09, 2013 - 08:23 PM

Just acquired a solcat 18 that has no sails or centerboards. Would love to take her out once to see if it's worth fixing her up... I've seen some pics of split hulls and read about rigging pulling loose so want to get out on the water to see she'll float... if so I'll invest to fix her up. I'll check the links in these posts but if anyone has new references would love to get some parts.
windadict

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 27, 2011

Last visit: Jun 15, 2015

Posts: 153
Posted: Jul 12, 2013 - 11:43 AM

mrmontanaI'll check the links in these posts but if anyone has new references would love to get some parts.

Congrats on your new boat. I have set of dugger boards, 1 extra rudder, boom, blocks if you need. PM me if you are interested or if you need info of how to rig it etc.

--
Adam Bartos
Nacra 5.0
SolCat 18 (sold)
Lake Zurich, IL
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